Fiction

American Dirt

American Dirt

  • Downloads：3629
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-03-28 15:11:11
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Jeanine Cummins
  • ISBN：1250754089
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

También de este lado hay sueños。
On this side， too， there are dreams。

Lydia Quixano Pérez lives in the Mexican city of Acapulco。 She runs a bookstore。 She has a son， Luca， the love of her life， and a wonderful husband who is a journalist。 And while there are cracks beginning to show in Acapulco because of the drug cartels， her life is， by and large， fairly comfortable。

Even though she knows they’ll never sell， Lydia stocks some of her all-time favorite books in her store。 And then one day a man enters the shop to browse and comes up to the register with a few books he would like to buy—two of them her favorites。 Javier is erudite。 He is charming。 And， unbeknownst to Lydia， he is the jefe of the newest drug cartel that has gruesomely taken over the city。 When Lydia’s husband’s tell-all profile of Javier is published， none of their lives will ever be the same。

Forced to flee， Lydia and eight-year-old Luca soon find themselves miles and worlds away from their comfortable middle-class existence。 Instantly transformed into migrants， Lydia and Luca ride la bestia—trains that make their way north toward the United States， which is the only place Javier’s reach doesn’t extend。 As they join the countless people trying to reach el norte， Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something。 But what exactly are they running to？

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Reviews

Katrina Pajo ，

It put me on the edge from one chapter to another。 It was an easy read for me， what was not easy was experiencing how the characters endured a lot of challenges。

Leighton Clark ，

Riveting and humblingI learned so much about the fears and pains of so many who suffer as migrants。 The lies of powerful men who deny it are shameful。

Holly Bopp ，

Audio

Nerm ，

It has a catchy beginning。 It took me a while to finish it。 I've read a lot of comments and reviews that it's racist。 I think the author wanted to make it be as realistic as possible。 Not that my opinion matters but。。 Do I think the authors intention was to be racist？ No。 I think she had a story and went with it。 It's a good book because it keeps you guessing whether she will make it out safely and alive。She did drag it on a bit too long。 I found that I've skipped through a couple pages here and It has a catchy beginning。 It took me a while to finish it。 I've read a lot of comments and reviews that it's racist。 I think the author wanted to make it be as realistic as possible。 Not that my opinion matters but。。 Do I think the authors intention was to be racist？ No。 I think she had a story and went with it。 It's a good book because it keeps you guessing whether she will make it out safely and alive。She did drag it on a bit too long。 I found that I've skipped through a couple pages here and there （which I never do）。 I'm sure the author did her research and I'm sure these things happen in real life。 Interesting approach though。。 If you're looking into reading this book， I do recommend it but it's a bit of a drag。 。。。more

Susan ，

Tragedy， death， fear， hopelessness。。。and then the other parts of life。。。love， joy， hope， passion。。。Timeless themes over hard days and miles， written with authentic characters and page turning plots， this was a good read！

Sarah Rusnell ，

This was compulsively readable and I really enjoyed the writing。 It is violent and tragic yet hopeful。 I went into this book very aware of the issues and controversy surrounding it; particularly criticism that the book is riddled with stereotypes and dramatizations that take away from the true experience and own voice author's natratives。 I’ve picked up 2 own voices novels to explore this further。 This was compulsively readable and I really enjoyed the writing。 It is violent and tragic yet hopeful。 I went into this book very aware of the issues and controversy surrounding it; particularly criticism that the book is riddled with stereotypes and dramatizations that take away from the true experience and own voice author's natratives。 I’ve picked up 2 own voices novels to explore this further。 。。。more

M ，

3。5， Good。 It was good to inhabit the person's who needed to come North for their safety。 Imagine this is a romanticized view of the journey over the border to the US。 Yet， this story did give a view of an essential escape， and the story was written well - a well told story with an important perspective。 3。5， Good。 It was good to inhabit the person's who needed to come North for their safety。 Imagine this is a romanticized view of the journey over the border to the US。 Yet， this story did give a view of an essential escape， and the story was written well - a well told story with an important perspective。 。。。more

Shirley ，

In American Dirt， after her journalist husband runs afoul of cartel boss Javier Fuentes， Lydia’s entire family is murdered with the exception of her young son， Luca。 Now， Lydia and Luca must run for their lives to try to leave Mexico despite the many dangers lurking along the difficult journey and with Fuentes and his men nipping at their heels。Action-packed and suspenseful， American Dirt is a thriller that tells a story about migration into the United States。

Allison Mary-Louise ，

I could not put it down。 Very intense and powerful read。

Lisa G ，

The overarching story is compelling and heartbreaking。 Some parts can get a little repetitious。 Not sure how I wanted this book to end or how I thought it would end。 I listened to the audiobook but would have preferred to have read it。

Christine ，

Engaging readProbably not literary fiction。 But full of violent action。 Hard to put down。 Good strong female characters but they are mostly developed through the narrative action

Kathy Fencik ，

Great read。 Remember that this is a fiction

Crystal Brokering ，

Good read。 A little slow start but worth going on。 Interesting point of view from immigrants。

Teresa ，

Mediocre。 Certainly a page Turner but I have to agree with the irony of a white woman writing a watered down version of the life of a migrant。 The character was extremely privileged in comparison to her cohort and that should be addressed more than it is。

Heather ，

I found this a great story about love and survival and the journey of migrants crossing the border

Jill ，

It took me a while to get through because it was anxiety producing， but really good read about the travel over the US border。

Carol Hartman Davis ，

Very engaging。 For me， this work created an appreciation and an empathy for the plight of escaping Central Americans。 Some things were somewhat improbable， but on the whole， the sympathetic characters created an good understanding of the corruption and dangers of escaping from a society run my cartel greed。 I believe this is a must read to share the understanding of the current border situation。

Yi ，

This book was hard to stomach。 Gave me so much anxiety， especially as a mom of young children。 I had to stop several times before finishing。 Overall I’m glad I finished （and found out what happened to the main characters） but definitely not a book I’d pick up again。

Missy Phillips ，

One of the best books I've read in awhile！ Highly recommend！ One of the best books I've read in awhile！ Highly recommend！ 。。。more

Liz ，

Good book that shows some of the complexities of undocumented immigrants making their way to the United States。 I read some of the criticisms of the book， but I think the positives outweigh the negatives in terms of importance of subject。

Valerie ，

This story really shone a light on the harrowing experiences of migrating families that pull them to the US。 Great storytelling。 I really enjoyed the characters and definitely recommend this one！

Katelynne ，

3。5！ I really enjoyed this book and then read through the reviews。 Can see where they are coming from but I’m not sure this painted my understanding the whole Mexican experience。 It was a gripping story。 Well first I guess ans then the rest was good to read but not as intense。Here’s a list of Latinx writers and stories that I found in there -Reyna Grande: Dream Called Home & Distance Between Us-Luis Urrea: Devil’s Highway， Into the Beautiful North-Cristina Henríquez: Book of Unknown Americans-An 3。5！ I really enjoyed this book and then read through the reviews。 Can see where they are coming from but I’m not sure this painted my understanding the whole Mexican experience。 It was a gripping story。 Well first I guess ans then the rest was good to read but not as intense。Here’s a list of Latinx writers and stories that I found in there -Reyna Grande: Dream Called Home & Distance Between Us-Luis Urrea: Devil’s Highway， Into the Beautiful North-Cristina Henríquez: Book of Unknown Americans-Ana Raquel Minian: Undocumented Lives-Anabel Hernández: Massacre in Mexico-Guadalupe García McCall: All the Stars Denied-Yuri Herrera: Signs Preceding the End of the World-Valeria Luiselli: Tell Me How It Ends-Oscar Cásares: Where We Come From-Alfredo Corchado: Homelands-Javier Zamora: Unaccompanied-Daniel Peña: Bang-Sylvia Zéleny: The Everything I Have Lost-Sara Uribe: Antígona González-Silvia Moreno García: Untamed Shore 。。。more

Shirley Mealing ，

Read this in a day， couldn’t put it down。 Gripped from the first page。

Joanna Lowell-Forker ，

This novel by Jeanine Cummins is a gripping， heartbreaking tale about a mother's love and desire to stay alive against all hope。 Lydia Perez lives in Acapulco， Mexico， and as a bookstore owner， is married to a journalist and has a son she adores， family around her， and has a rich， vibrant and full life。 All of this comes crashing down when a drug cartel takes away everything from her and she is left to run for her life。 This book addressing the plight of immigrants and the dangers they risk tryi This novel by Jeanine Cummins is a gripping， heartbreaking tale about a mother's love and desire to stay alive against all hope。 Lydia Perez lives in Acapulco， Mexico， and as a bookstore owner， is married to a journalist and has a son she adores， family around her， and has a rich， vibrant and full life。 All of this comes crashing down when a drug cartel takes away everything from her and she is left to run for her life。 This book addressing the plight of immigrants and the dangers they risk trying to seek asylum in the United States and a timely first-hand experience of immigrants' experiences risking all odds to find safety and a chance at a better life makes you live and breathe the experience with Lydia and Luca。 I think this is one of the most important and influential books about the refugee story！ A must-read！ 。。。more

sylvia cooper ，

A good read A very enlightening and thought provoking story of a very different life。 It makes you more understanding of the immigrants trials。

Melissa ，

This was a very compelling book。 I had a hard time putting it down。 Be prepared -it is heart wrenching。 I appreciate the insights into the migrant/ border issues and I feel so filled with sympathy for all those people fleeing their home countries。 I appreciate that this book did not come across as political- it was just a story -though no doubt you can ascertain the author’s political leaning。 I feel like I learned from this book and was swept up by the characters and thriller-like story but als This was a very compelling book。 I had a hard time putting it down。 Be prepared -it is heart wrenching。 I appreciate the insights into the migrant/ border issues and I feel so filled with sympathy for all those people fleeing their home countries。 I appreciate that this book did not come across as political- it was just a story -though no doubt you can ascertain the author’s political leaning。 I feel like I learned from this book and was swept up by the characters and thriller-like story but also feel like I should read more true stories on the subject from actual immigrants。 It has definitely opened my eyes and softened my heart。 。。。more

Mike ，

If you take anything away from this book I hope it’s gratitude。 Be thankful for all you have and where you were born。 This could have been anyone of us。

Jacquelyn Crafts ，

Very well written， but also emotionally hard to read and process。 It gutted me several times。 But I suppose that was the point。

Kate ，

I have not been so invested in characters in a novel in a long time。 This novel is impossible to put down or stop thinking about。 Really well written。

Ellie ，

About midway through this book， I read through some reviews and realized that maybe this is not the best book to read to learn about the experience of migrants。 I wanted to finish it， but also acknowledge that after reading this book I will need to read some other books by Mexican writers。 So， I plan on doing that in the near future。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=American Dirt

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=American Dirt&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,American Dirt&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0